We had a great time at the 28th Annual Bike Rodeo and Family Safety Day on Saturday, May 18 at the Brunswick Park’s and Recreation Department, with 150 children participating in a variety of activities. 

    Children took their bikes thru a course, with instructors from the Masons and Brunswick Rotary making sure they stopped, yielded, looked both ways, and stayed on course. The course itself was chalked out and signed by long time Wheeler and Bike Rodeo organizer Rich Cromwell with his trusty assistant Mark. The Brunswick Police Department registered the children’s bikes, with a very large orange fox giving high fives to all. 

    Rotarians George, Carla , Gary, and Larry greeted the children as they arrived, and checked in with them. Rotarian Patty was the MC for the event. A big thank you goes out to our local Walmart for donating 6 new bicycles and to the bag stuffers for the gift bags given out to children once they had completed nine stations in the event. 

    A total of 12 bicycles were given out to Charlotte S age 5, Barbara J age 11, Rosemary S age 9, Levi S age 6, Emerie L age 4, Sophia L age 11, Vivian W age 6, Sebastian S age 7, Leo D age7, Isaac K age 7, Henry S age 8, and Molly B age 6, Ice G age 8, Chris A age 5, Finley H age 8, and Ella O age 6! They all received water bottles with gifts inside from Center Street Cycle. Another wonderful event for children coordinated and put on by various local organizations in Brunswick.

And there were many organizations there supporting and educating the children and adults too

    The Brunswick Fire Department brought the Smoke House so children could learn how to react to a fire, if they were ever in a dangerous situation. 

    Center Street Cycle manned two bicycle safety tents, making sure every part of the children’s bicycles were in great shape, and  functioning properly. 

    Cub Scout Pack 648 brought an archery station for the children to try their skills at, and also to teach archery safety. 

    Merrymeeting Wheelers Bicycle Club fit new bike helmets (donated by the Brunswick Rotary) to heads large and small, making sure everyone had the ability to abide by the rules of the road. 

    Martin’s Point Tent with Rotarian Lisa at the booth talking about ticks, and educating on how to check for ticks and how to remove them, and how to be safe outdoors in the summer. 

    Be Smart, a gun safety organization, had a booth to talk to parents and children about the dangers of unsecured guns, and gun safety in the homes. 

    Sabrina, Tom, Aaron, David, and Rosalind, all from Brunswick Parks and Recreation Department were crucial in the planning, set up and execution of the event. Our publicity sponsor, Mid Coast Hospital provides all the material that went out to the schools, and advertising. They had their own booth manned by Melissa, who spoke to children about the dangers of prolonged sun exposure, and how to avoid sunburns. 

    The Maine Wardens Service brought their truck and boat to display for children to view. 

     This year’s event was a great success and we are all looking forward to a wonderful summer! 

    We had a great time at the 28th Annual Bike Rodeo and Family Safety Day on Saturday, May 18 at the Brunswick Park’s and Recreation Department, with 150 children participating in a variety of activities. 

    Children took their bikes thru a course, with instructors from the Masons and Brunswick Rotary making sure they stopped, yielded, looked both ways, and stayed on course. The course itself was chalked out and signed by long time Wheeler and Bike Rodeo organizer Rich Cromwell with his trusty assistant Mark. The Brunswick Police Department registered the children’s bikes, with a very large orange fox giving high fives to all. 

    Rotarians George, Carla , Gary, and Larry greeted the children as they arrived, and checked in with them. Rotarian Patty was the MC for the event. A big thank you goes out to our local Walmart for donating 6 new bicycles and to the bag stuffers for the gift bags given out to children once they had completed nine stations in the event. 

    A total of 12 bicycles were given out to Charlotte S age 5, Barbara J age 11, Rosemary S age 9, Levi S age 6, Emerie L age 4, Sophia L age 11, Vivian W age 6, Sebastian S age 7, Leo D age7, Isaac K age 7, Henry S age 8, and Molly B age 6, Ice G age 8, Chris A age 5, Finley H age 8, and Ella O age 6! They all received water bottles with gifts inside from Center Street Cycle. Another wonderful event for children coordinated and put on by various local organizations in Brunswick.

And there were many organizations there supporting and educating the children and adults too

    The Brunswick Fire Department brought the Smoke House so children could learn how to react to a fire, if they were ever in a dangerous situation. 

    Center Street Cycle manned two bicycle safety tents, making sure every part of the children’s bicycles were in great shape, and  functioning properly. 

    Cub Scout Pack 648 brought an archery station for the children to try their skills at, and also to teach archery safety. 

    Merrymeeting Wheelers Bicycle Club fit new bike helmets (donated by the Brunswick Rotary) to heads large and small, making sure everyone had the ability to abide by the rules of the road. 

    Martin’s Point Tent with Rotarian Lisa at the booth talking about ticks, and educating on how to check for ticks and how to remove them, and how to be safe outdoors in the summer. 

    Be Smart, a gun safety organization, had a booth to talk to parents and children about the dangers of unsecured guns, and gun safety in the homes. 

    Sabrina, Tom, Aaron, David, and Rosalind, all from Brunswick Parks and Recreation Department were crucial in the planning, set up and execution of the event. Our publicity sponsor, Mid Coast Hospital provides all the material that went out to the schools, and advertising. They had their own booth manned by Melissa, who spoke to children about the dangers of prolonged sun exposure, and how to avoid sunburns. 

    The Maine Wardens Service brought their truck and boat to display for children to view. 

     This year’s event was a great success and we are all looking forward to a wonderful summer!